Wire-stretching tool



Dec. 17, 1929.

J. 0. SMITH WIRE STRETCHING TOOL Filed NOV. 15, 1925 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 PATENT 2 OFFICE JAMES vo. SMITH. or mounns, OKLAHOMA wmn-srnn'ronmo TOOL 1pt11aai.,n flledflovembar 13, 1923. Serial No. 674,557.

This invention relates Ito improvements in toolsjand inoreparticularly to a tool of the coinbinationtype adapted especially for use in the erection of wire fences.

. One ofthe objectsiof tliepresent invention is to provide ,a tool'o'f'the class described embod'ying'no'vel means for gripping coaction with a fencewiretof enable the wire to be properly tensioned; and disposed beside. the post, to'which it i'sto-be secured, and then stretched prior to anchorage to the post.

Other and further objects will appear in the following description and will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation thereof showing the levers fulcrumed to an open position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing one use of the tool; and

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the tool taken from the opposite side, to that shown in Fig. 2 and showing how the tool may be used as a screwdriver.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the tool includes a pair of levers A and B. The lever A is provided with a long arm 1 and a short arm 2 on opposite sides of a broadened-intermediate portion 3.

The terminal of the long arm 1 is in the form of a screw-driver blade 4. The lever B includes a long arm 5 and a short arm 6, which arms are disposed on opposite sides of a broadened intermediate portion 7. The portions 3 and 7 are fulcrumed by means of a pin 8. The end of the long arm 5 is provided with sockets 9 so that the tool may be used as a wrench. The short arms 2 and 6 form jaws of a pair of pliers when it is desired to use the tool for this purpose and it will be noted that the opposed faces thereof are ser rated as at 10. The outer side of the short arm 2 is provided with a head 11 adapting the tool to be used as a hammer, while the as to abut the long arml when the levers are in full o en position as shown in Fig. 2.

.It willbe observed by reference to F ig ures 2 and 3 of the drawings, that the broadened intermediate portion 3 of the lever A is formed at its inner side with a cam surface 15 which is eccentric to the pivot 8, the said surface, at ,and. adjacent its gripping portion receding from the pivot as shown clearly in the said figures. It will likewise be observed by reference to the said figures that the intermediate portion 7 of, the lever ,B is formed to provide a cam surface 16 which is displaced with respect to; the pivot 8 and confronts or opposes the surface 15, the surface 16 being straight for a'portion of its length between the inner-end of the serrated face 10 of the jaw 6- to a point substantially opposite the pivot 8 and from this point being rounded in a, direction substantially the reverse of the direction in which the surface 15 is rounded. The active portions of the cam surfaces are therefore located rearwardly or inwardly of the pivot 8 and it will be evident that they cooperate when the handle members 1 and.5 of the levers A and B are swung apart as shown in Figure 3, gripping between them the wire which is to be stretched. It will likewise be observed by reference to Figures 2 and 3. that the gripping cam portions 15 and 16 are located inwardly of the pivot 8 and consequently inwardly of the serrated or toothed surfaces of the jaws 2 and 6 of the levers. It will also be evident that when the handle portions 1 and .5 of the levers are swung toward each other, the toothed or ser- I rated surfaces of the jaws 2 and 6 will be brought into coactive relation to each other to grip a wire inserted between them and that on the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, when the head 11 of the lever member A is disposed against the side of a fence post and the member B has its handle portion 5 swung in the direction of the post, the cam portion 16 of the member B will be caused to coact with the cam portion 15 of the member A to firmly grip a wire laid between the cam portions. Therefore in the use of the tool embodying the invention, the

user may appl the tool to the wire which is to be secure to the fence post by engaging the wire between the serrated faces of the jaws 2 and 6, positionin the tool relatively close to the post, an then closing the handle members 1 and 5 so as to clamp the wire between the said jaws 2 and whereupon the tool may be pulled in a direct on away from the post so as to tension the wire and while the wire is tensioned it may grasped in the left hand and held in this tensioned condition while the tool 1s slid by the right hand along the wire until the tool is agaln very close to the post whereupon the tool may be turned at an angle to the line of extent of the wire as shown in Figure 3 to cause the head 11 to engage a ainst the side of the post and, by a manipulation of the handle member 5 of the lever member B to move the same away from the handle member 1 of the lever A, the'wire is gripped between the cam portions 15 and 16 and then, by further exerting pressure on the member 5 in the direction of the post, the tool as a whole will fulcrum about the head -11 and the wire may be further stretched lace.

The numerous other usages to whic device may be put are quite self-evident with- 'being eccentric to the out a more detailed description of the invention. It is evident, also, that numerous changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as ereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

The short arms 2 and 6 are provided with cutting edges 20 and 21 so that a wire may be placed therebetween and by closing the short arms these cuttin edges will engage the wire so as to sever t e same.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire stretching tool comprising a pair of crossed pivoted lever members provided at one side of their pivot with handles, the said members having opposed wire-gri ping cam portions adjacent their point 0 pivotal connection with each other, the active surface of the cam portion of one member ivot and curved to rece therefrom in t e direction of the handle, the cam portion of the other member having its active surface offset laterally with respect to the pivot and reversely curved with respect to the active surface of the first mentioned cam portion whereby to provide for gripping of a wire between the said surfaces upon relative separation of the handles of the lever members, the first mentioned lever member being provided upon its side opposite the cam portion with a post-engaging head to constitute a fulcrum for the tool 7 when en aged with a post.

2. A wire stretching tool comprising a pair of crossed pivoted lever members provided at one side of their pivot with handles and at the opposite side of the pivot with wire gri ping aws having opposed faces for mutua COflOtlOIl upon movement of the handles of the lever members toward each other, the lever members havin% opposed wire gripping cam portions inwar 1y of their pivot, the active surface of the cam portion on one member being eccentric to the pivot and curved to recede therefrom in the direction of the handle, the cam portion of the other member having its active surface offset laterally with respect to the pivot and reversely curved with respect to t e active surface of the first mentioned cam portion whereby to pro: vide for gripping of a wire between the said surfaces upon relative se aration of the handles of the lever mem ers, the first mentioned lever member being provided upon its side opposite the cam portion with a postengaging head to constitute a fulcrum for the tool when engaged with a post.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES 0. SMITH. 

